The Quartz Mountains are an extension of the

Wichita Mountains The Wichita Mountains are located in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is the principal relief system in the Southern Oklahoma Aulacogen, being the result of a failed continental rift. The mountains are a northwest-southea ...

in the far southwestern part of the state of

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...

. According to the ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', the range was originally formed about 550 million years ago as a "failed continental rift". It was uplifted about 300 million years ago and has since weathered into its current condition.Christopher Neel and Richard A. Marston. "Quartz Mountains." ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''.
Accessed October 31, 2015. The unique geography provides cover for the most northerly natural population of the Texas live oak,

quercus fusiformis ''Quercus fusiformis'' (also often referred to as ''Q. virginiana'' var. ''fusiformis''), commonly known as escarpment live oak, plateau live oak, plateau oak, or Texas live oak, is an evergreen or nearly evergreen tree. Its native range inc ...

. This rare oak is generally regarded as the most cold hardy evergreen oak.

General description

The section extends west and northwest of the main Wichita range, separated by a plain dotted with smaller foothills. It is about east of Mangum and north of

Altus Altus or ALTUS may refer to: Music *Alto, a musical term meaning second highest musical or vocal type *Altus (voice type), a vocal type also known as countertenor Places * Altus, Arkansas, US **Altus AVA, a wine-growing region near Altus, Arkans ...

. The tallest mountain in the range is

Quartz Mountain Quartz Mountain (also called Baldy Point) is located in Greer County in southwest Oklahoma. It is the namesake of Quartz Mountain Nature Park and its eastern flank is enclosed by the park boundaries. It is near the cities of Mangum, Oklahoma an ...

at above sea level. The area is popular for

rockclimbing Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up, across, or down natural rock formations. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a usually pre-defined route without falling. Rock climbing is a physically an ...

on its weathered

granite Granite () is a coarse-grained (phaneritic) intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly cools and solidifies undergro ...

outcrop An outcrop or rocky outcrop is a visible exposure of bedrock or ancient superficial deposits on the surface of the Earth. Features Outcrops do not cover the majority of the Earth's land surface because in most places the bedrock or superficial ...

pings and is home to

Quartz Mountain State Park Quartz Mountain State Park is located in southwest Oklahoma at the western end of the Wichita Mountains, east of Mangum, Oklahoma and north of Altus, Oklahoma. The nearest community is Lone Wolf, Oklahoma, about northeast of the park. It is op ...

and

Lake Altus-Lugert Lake Altus-Lugert, also known as Lake Altus, Lake Lugert, Lake Lugert-Altus, and Lugert Lake, is a reservoir located on the North Fork Red River, about 17 miles (27 km) north of Altus, Oklahoma on the former site of the town of Lugert, Ok ...

reservoir.

History

Formerly controlled (at least nominally) by Spain, France, Mexico, and the Republic of Texas, In the mid 19th Century, these mountains were part of the United States area known as the Leased District and Indian Territory. Old Greer County and the Kiowa-Comanche-Apache Reservation were created from this district and became part of Oklahoma Territory. Actually, the area was mostly controlled by nomadic Native American tribes, until they were militarily pushed onto reservations. Intensive hunting exterminated many species of the region's fauna (e.g., bison, elk, wolves and mountain lions) before the 20th Century. General

Philip Sheridan General of the Army Philip Henry Sheridan (March 6, 1831 – August 5, 1888) was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. His career was noted for his rapid rise to major general and his close as ...

reportedly said, "... untershave done more in the last two years, and will do more in the next year, to settle the vexed Indian question than the entire regular army has done in the last thirty years." Finally, after personal pleas from the Comanche chief, Quanah Parker, President Theodore Roosevelt authorized a policy of repopulating the area with the original species.

Protected areas

In 1927, Lake Altus (now

) was created at the base of the Quartz Mountains. In 1935, a tract adjoining the lake was declared Quartz Mountain State Park. This tract was bought by citizens of Altus who donated it to the state for use as a park. More acreage has been added over the intervening years, bringing the total park area to .Thomas L. Hedglen, "Quartz Mountain State Park," ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.''
Accessed March 5, 2015.

Quartz Mountain Resort

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education operates the Quartz Mountain Resort. It includes a 118-room lodge, a guesthouse, cabins, bunkhouse, RV hookups and primitive campsites.
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References

{{Mountains of Oklahoma Mountain ranges of Oklahoma Landforms of Greer County, Oklahoma Climbing areas of the United States Protected areas of Greer County, Oklahoma Protected areas of Jackson County, Oklahoma